The Death of a Celebrity Chef Page 5

  As they walked toward the front, Cate took Louie’s arm in hers. She put her head on his shoulder. “I know this hasn’t been an easy day for you.” Her voice sounded quiet yet soothing. Buster clapped a hand on Louie’s other shoulder.

  “Yeah, man. We sort of ran over your feelings today. Forgive me?”

  Louie smiled through a hint of sadness. He pulled free of Cate and draped both his arms across the shoulders of his friends. “It’s all good,” he assured them.

  As the group opened the door to enter the front area on their way to the exit, Vera appeared before them, her head tipped down, her brow drawn in and her lips pursed. Through her oversized, black-framed glasses, she stared. “Why are you here?”

  Chapter Six

  The group turned to look at Vera. Hannah was already evaluating her body language.

  Composed, but not as antagonistic as before. Observing. Contemplating. Assessing, Hannah clicked off in her head before filing it in her mental storage.

  Cate was the first to recover. She made an immediate attempt to deflect suspicion. “What do you mean?”

  Vera stared ahead, unflinching. Her eyes darted between each member of the group before coming full circle back to Cate. “I’ve been watching you. This place has cameras, which you are no doubt aware of.” She stared at Louie. “You, I recognize. Food Critic magazine. Julia’s old friend.” She turned to Hannah.

  “But the rest of you, you’re not journalists. Why are you here?”

  “Of course, we are. We’re his assistants. Interns,” Buster turned on his full charm, and answered in his most convincing voice.

  “Interns? How old are you? Thirty?” She turned her eyes to Hannah. “And with that hat? I do not think so.”

  Buster’s face displayed sudden shock. Vera’s guess had hit hard. His vanity and pride hurt, he stammered, “Twenty-seven.” He pointed to Cate and Hannah. “They’re over thirty.”

  Cate frowned. Turning to Buster, she placed her hands on her hips and answered in an irritated voice. “Thirty-one, thank you!”

  Vera stiffened and peered harder toward all. “How many thirty something interns do you know?” She darted her eyes toward Louie. “You, why do you keep staring at me? Do I know you?”

  Drawn out of his daze, Louie shook his head. “No, Ms.… Bessinger, wasn’t it?” He offered her his hand.

  Vera tilted her head to one side and studied the man before her. Hannah watched as the woman sized Louie up. Cautious, she ticked off once again.

  After a moment, Vera took the offer and returned the gesture. Eased by her action, Louie provided a pleasant smile. “Pleasure to meet you.” Vera nodded, but remained quiet. It was clear to all she was waiting for an explanation, which Louie proceeded to give. “I am here on an assignment,” Louie explained as Vera looked at him with skepticism. He looked to the others before turning back to her. “But you are right. We are also here for another reason.”

  Vera remained silent and unmoving. She watched as Louie furrowed his brow and drew in a breath before continuing. When he did speak, he laced his words with feelings of pain issued between pauses. “The truth is… I’ve always wondered about Julia’s death. It doesn’t feel right. Nothing about it makes sense. Where they found her by the water, she would not have been there. She was--”

  Vera cut Louie off mid-sentence, her voice echoing with equal parts excitement, shock, and camaraderie. “Afraid of the water.”

  Louie agreed. “Terrified.”

  “Yes, she wouldn’t go near it without someone with her, never.”

  Louie smiled; intrigued by the sudden bond he shared with the young woman before him. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about!” he exclaimed, shaking and pointing his finger into the air for emphasis. Locking eyes with Vera, he nodded. “That’s why I’m… we’re here. It’s an opportunity.”

  For the first time since they encountered each other, Vera smiled. She was bobbing her head as she took in Louie’s confession. Hannah watched as the woman’s body relaxed and the tension fell from around her. She also could tell by Vera’s reactions she also had many unanswered questions. Now, she had someone to share them with. Her instant agreement also hinted those questions had been somewhat of a burden for her to carry over the past year. As such, she was ready to accept even the broadest of agreement, so long as it pointed to the common goal of finding out what happened to Julia. This even to strangers.

  Vera moved forward and hugged Louie tight as tears welled in her eyes. “I was beginning to think I was alone in my suspicions.” Once she released him, she looked at him through the watery gaze. “I know something happened. Nothing about it adds up. It’s like it was all rushed and swept under the rug. Julia deserves better than that.”

  Louie was beaming. Hannah could tell it came from a mixed bag of feelings. Vera looked much like Julia. Perhaps she had been a surrogate child since she had none of her own. Maybe Louie was seeing Vera now as Julia and his offspring in the fantasy life he created, but had never realized. Beyond this, she had been close to Julia. For him, maybe Vera was a stand-in for himself. Working beside her. Being there when she needed her. Creating. Seeing her every day. Now, more than anything, Vera was a compatriot in arms. She had reaffirmed his suspicions. Julia’s end came, not by some natural means, but by something foul. Nevertheless, all this would have to wait. Hannah had questions herself, and this case, the one she had been so eager to dismiss before, had now gotten interesting. She felt a tingle all over her body that she always got when a case was proving itself more than superficial. “Hannah Starvling.” She offered her hand to Vera. “We need to talk, but not here.” She darted her eyes upward to point out the security camera. “Smile for the camera.”

  Understanding her meaning, Vera smiled and shook Hannah’s hand. “Where?”

  “My place.” Louie reached into his pocket, produced a business card, and slipped it into her hand. “Text me when you can. I’ll send you the address.”

  Vera looked the card over, nodded and smiled for the camera. She gestured toward the exit and walked the group to the door. As they filed past, Hannah and Louie were the last to exit. Vera whispered to both, “Give me an hour, and send it. I should be able to make it sometime later. I’ll let you know when.” She placed her hand on Louie’s arm as he moved by. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

  He squeezed her hand. “No. Thank you.” He walked out the door as Vera stood watching.

  * * *

  Later, at Louie’s, Cate watched as he paced the floor. He checked his watch for the fifth time in as many minutes. Speaking in a fast, worried voice, he glanced toward the window where Cate stood looking out. “She should have been here fifteen minutes ago. You don’t think they were checking her texts, do you?”

  Cate shook her head. “I doubt it. It’s clear she hadn’t told anybody what she thought. She’s just running a little behind.”

  “How do you know? I mean, we are talking about Asa. You saw him. He’s a control freak. What if Julia was planning to leave him? What about this supposed affair? What if she found out, and he killed her? Or what if he had her killed? Then he would be all paranoid and stuff. Checking emails. Everything. Maybe that is why he kept her around. She was close to Julia. Maybe he thinks she knows something and is trying to find out. She could be in danger. She could be--”

  “Pulling into the driveway as we speak.” Cate pointed out the window.

  “You can relax now.” Hannah gave her new friend an assuring smile. She walked over and put her arm on his shoulder. “Listen, I realize you are hoping for some definitive answers, but let’s take this slow, okay? She reached out, which is good, but once the feeling of not being alone wears off, who knows? It might overwhelm her. She might want to backtrack. As much love as you two share for Julia, she might not be ready yet. She doesn’t know us, only that we are looking into the death of someone she cared for.” She looked him square in the eyes. “It might not be just her that is in over their heads, you understand? So may
be I should do the talking.”

  Louie looked at Hannah with great pain in his eyes. “I understand,” he agreed. “I am too close, I guess.”

  Showing a smile of true affection, Buster interjected. “Tell you what, big guy, how about I make us dinner while you guys talk?”

  “No thanks, dude. I still remember the last time.”

  “Okay, well, by make, I mean I’ll have Chinese delivered. Good enough?”

  They all laughed, breaking the intense tension that had built up in the room. Three sharp raps on the door halted their moment of relief. Cate headed to the door. “I’ll get it.”

  Cate opened the door as Vera knocked again. “Oh, great, you made it.” Cate smiled warmly. “Come on in. Did you have any problems finding the house?”

  Smiling with a twinge of uncertainty, Vera held up her cell. “A little. I have a GPS, but service can be spotty.”

  As Vera stepped inside, Cate took her jacket and placed it on the hooks Louie had mounted on the wall. Once again spying Hannah’s hat hanging there, Vera raised an eyebrow. “I don’t understand the hat or those lenses.”

  Cate turned to take it in. “No one does. It’s just a Hannah thing.”

  Looking at Vera, Cate noticed she had changed before coming over. Her formal business attire of earlier had given way to a much more comfortable look. She now wore a black pullover, jeans, and sneakers. Her glasses dangled from the center of her collar and her hair now hung free, released from the ponytail of earlier. Cate could now see what Louie had noted. Under these changes, she resembled Julia, except for her slight accent, which escaped on occasion. “We’re all in Louie’s office.”

  Cate led Vera back to the others who sat around a small table looking over papers from Louie’s file on Julia. Critic, who lay by Louie’s side, rose to meet the new arrival. Seeing the mastiff, Vera stopped and stiffened, despite the rapid wagging of his entire tail and hindquarters. Louie pointed down, and the canine followed the command to sit. “Don’t be nervous. He doesn’t bite,” Louie assured her, patting Critic on the head. Vera looked at the dog, whose tail still swished as he sat. She took a slow walk over to the animal and put out her hand for him to sniff. After a whiff, he lowered his head in anticipation of a pat or two. Instead, he received a vigorous scratch behind his ears, much to his great pleasure.

  “He is a true sweetheart,” she praised.

  Before sitting, everyone exchanged greetings and introductions anew. Louie put on some soothing, ambient music. “Better?” he inquired of her.

  “Yes, thank you. I love this type of music. How did you know?”

  “Lucky guess. It also happens to be my favorite. We were planning to order some Chinese. Would you like some?”

  Smiling, Vera paused for a moment. “That would be nice.”

  “Good, because otherwise, Buster here has threatened to cook.” Cate thumbed at her cousin. Buster reached over and gave his cousin a light punch in the arm.

  “I may not be able to cook, but I can deal with the best of ‘em. What’s everyone having?” The exchange brought about chuckles from all. So much so that, even Critic beginning to bark, made the laughter last longer.

  Cate, who was sitting next to her, was the first to regain control. “Oh, I needed that.”

  Hannah snickered one more time before clearing her throat. “I believe we all did,” She took the time to study Vera. She could tell the woman was much more comfortable than she had been when she entered the room. Still, Hannah wanted to reassure her they were on her side and working toward the same goal. “I want you to know that anything you say, anything you want to tell us, it won’t go beyond this room. It stays with us.”

  Vera looked at Hannah. As Hannah assessed her, she was mirroring that action. After a second, the corners of her lips turned up. “Thank you.” Hannah could tell Vera had judged her, and she had made the grade. Vera’s face flashed emotions in rapid succession. Hannah detected sadness, and self-doubt. “I’m not sure why I came.” She answered with a gentle tone. “After you said what you said...” Looking at Louie, she added, “I guess I’m tired of feeling alone. I don’t know whom I can trust. I considered backing out.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t,” Louie blurted out.

  Vera gave a meek smile. “Me, too.”

  Taking it all in, Hannah looked to the young woman. “So, you haven’t talked with anyone about your suspicions?”

  Vera thought for a moment before answering. “My parents. They are still in France, older. Their answer to everything is for me to come back to Paris and live with them, but I can’t. It’d be like hiding from the truth for the rest of my life. And as I said, Julia deserved better.”

  “So, you are from France?”

  Vera placed her fingers over her mouth. “Oh, my accent. Sometimes it slips out. I have tried to overcome it. I have taken speech classes. Asa insisted I sound American when I eventually took over the show. That opportunity came too soon, and I guess he felt I was not yet ready.”

  The room grew still as Julia’s tragic death once again weighed heavily in the room. To keep Vera talking, Hannah kept her on task. “Ah, Parisian?”

  “Oh, no, nothing of the sort. I am an Arzonais, meaning I am from Arzon, a small village along the Northwest coast.” Vera adjusted herself as though she were uncomfortable.

  Noticing the uncomfortable face Vera took on, Hannah looked around the room to see where she was looking. All eyes were on the young woman, and everyone was listening. Hannah again turned back to Vera and gave an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. That was rather rude of me. I didn’t mean to pry. Nothing worse than talking to a room full of strangers. I’m sure you have questions about us.” The conversation turned to extended introductions. Cate explained her and Buster’s familial relationship, and their friendship with Louie and Hannah. Buster gave a brief, but charming, account of life around Cate and Hannah. Hannah expounded on her various careers. The short career in the FBI, the changeover into the culinary world. Now Louie had asked her to look into Julia’s death.

  When the conversation came around to Louie, his focus took a natural turn toward Julia and his relationship with the late chef. Vera listened to every word, enraptured. Hannah could tell that, in Louie, she had found a kindred spirit. Both had a deep love for Julia. Yet, while she was sure both would have done anything for the woman, both connections seemed extreme.

  By the time, Louie concluded, Vera had once again relaxed, more so than at any point before. Through her accent, which seemed to ebb and flow with her beautiful voice, she explained her connection to Julia. “My birth mother is unknown to me, as is my father. Someone left me with a family, Lenora and Jacques Bessinger. They were to care for me for a few days.” Vera dropped her head and struggled for a moment to find the words. “But it turned into a lifetime.”

  Cate looked over to Buster before she turned back to Vera. “They sound like good people.”

  “They are. My father is a baker. My mother and he owned a little shop there in Arzon. Nothing fancy, but it earns, how do you say, an honest living, but little else. One day, Julia came into their shop, looking for some rolls for a beach-side meal. She was on holiday at the time, away from her studies in Paris. I was still tiny, so my parents kept me with them. She inquired about me, and my story intrigued her. She later told me that when she returned to Paris, for some reason, she could not keep me off her mind.”

  Cate, Buster, and Louie listened to every word of Vera’s story, but, as was her nature, Hannah analyzed it along the way, storing up questions, making connections, hypothesizing. Vera’s tale was both heartwarming and endearing, but was it true? Do children get left behind with strangers, who fall so in love with them they adopt them? It all seemed so Charles Dickens to Hannah. This is a story worthy of a movie, or she’s one of the best acting con artists, and potential murderer, I have ever met, Hannah admitted to herself. She drifted back into the conversation. “So, she kept up with you.”

  “Yes, I came to know her
as a friend of the family. She always was kind to my family. We lived a simple life, but never struggled, thanks to Julia. If we needed something, it always turned up for us, even though my parents would never ask. It was easy to figure out it was Julia. As her fortunes increased, so did her generosity.”

  Cate was enthralled with Vera’s story. She looked over to Louie. His eyes were gleaming, and he bore a sentimental smile so large it seemed almost to arch around his face. “That’s my girl.”

  Louie’s assurance made Vera beam. “It was her way. When I was older, I wanted to enter university. My parents had some money saved, but it was not enough. I was ready to resign myself to working at the shop for the rest of my life when Julia once again stepped in. She provided me with the money to attend. I was… being still… so grateful.”

  Hannah continued her assessment of the story, considering all possibilities, even the ones she did not want to contemplate. Could this all be smoke and mirrors? Could underneath this love and devotion be the unthinkable? Hannah did not like the last question. It did not feel right, but her training taught her to think beyond instinct.

  It was a big part of the investigator’s tool kit. Assess everything based on its own merit and consider all the facts. After a moment’s lapse, Hannah pushed all thoughts aside and returned to Vera’s story.

  Chapter Seven

  “Now, that’s a generous woman,” Buster piped in.

  “Oh, yes, but it was more than that. She set me up a trust fund. It funds me in part to this day.”

  “Interesting,” Hannah noted. “That must be some account.”

  “I have never asked the amount. I am thankful that it provided me with an opportunity to finish school and come to America. For now, the administration is through lawyers, but I will have direct access to it when I’m thirty. I planned to turn the money over to my parents until they passed on, and return it to Julia.”